EQAO Profiles Two Secondary Schools in South Western Ontario for Improving Student Achievement

TORONTO, Sept. 24, 2014 /CNW/ - Thames Valley District School Board's Sir Frederick Banting Secondary School (London) and Waterloo Catholic District School Board's St. Mary's High School (Kitchener) are being profiled in the Education Quality and Accountability Office's (EQAO's) Provincial Secondary School Report, released today, for their committed efforts and success improving student achievement.

Thirteen secondary schools across the province are being profiled this year. Each has been identified because of the notable improvement in its EQAO results over time. Each school team has shared how EQAO and other data have been used to guide instructional programs, which in turn have helped improve the literacy and numeracy skills of students.

QUOTES

"In examining the factors that contribute to Banting's success, one must begin with the sense of community and inclusiveness that is fostered in this school. As Principal Joan Cooper states, 'We don't just tolerate diversity; we celebrate it.'"
— Excerpt from EQAO's Provincial Secondary School Report case study on Sir Frederick Banting Secondary School

"Looking at a variety of data propels our school improvement planning. Evidence from students' classroom and EQAO assessments and staff surveys shows us if we're on the right track, guides our decisions and sets us in motion for the next year."
— Gale Daly, Principal, St. Mary's High School

"The schools being profiled demonstrate significant progress in supporting student achievement. They have used EQAO data, alongside in-school evidence, in planning improvements to their programs and teaching practices. These particular schools are seeing positive results in student achievement as a result of their efforts. I trust that these stories will serve as an inspiration to other school communities across the province."
— Bruce Rodrigues, Chief Executive Officer, EQAO

LEARN MORE

Visit www.eqao.com for the following:

EQAO School and School Board Profiles and Reports

Infographic: EQAO Provincial Assessments 2014

About EQAO

EQAO's assessments measure student achievement in reading, writing and mathematics in relation to Ontario Curriculum expectations. The resulting data provide accountability and a gauge of quality in Ontario's publicly funded education system. By providing this important evidence about learning, EQAO acts as a catalyst for increasing the success of Ontario students.

The objective and reliable results from EQAO's assessments complement the information obtained from classroom and other assessments to provide students, parents, teachers and administrators with a clear and comprehensive picture of student achievement and a basis for targeted improvement planning at the individual, school, school board and provincial levels. EQAO helps build capacity for the appropriate use of data by providing resources that educators, parents, policy-makers and others in the education community can use to improve learning and teaching. EQAO distributes an individual report to each student who writes an assessment, and posts school, school board and provincial results on its Web site.

Les résultats des écoles de langue française sont disponibles en français.

SOURCE: Education Quality and Accountability Office

and to arrange interviews, please contact: Angele Dufresne, Communications Officer, 416-212-7047, [email protected]